Wave-signal analyzing system



Dec. 6, 1949 a. n. LOUGHLIN IAYB-SIGIIAL mum szsrn 2 shun-sun use mvamz. aaaumn axqumm Hrmnieaoseamc' ,lw iL-fl. e wsvas'mnar. amn'rzrxo .Bernsrd D. Louzhlin. Lynbrook. it. !.,,assigncs" tonsseltine poration of Illinois Application December 11, 19st; SesiaiNc. use I This invention is directed to systems for analyzing an applied wave signal and, while subject to a wide variety'oi applications, it is especially suited for indicating the' root-mean-square (R.-M.-S.) value of a purely random noise signal. In the descriptive material to follow. the use of the invention in ascertaining signal-tonoise ratios 01 wave-signal translating devices will be considered in detail. d

The signal-to-noise ratio is required in determining certain characteristics, such as sensitivity. of wave-signal translatin arrangements.

It issirnilar to a figure of merit for the arrangement under test and may be round in several well-known ways. For example, it is known that the ratio may be computed by utilizing a meter to measure the R.-M.-S. value of the noise-signal output oi an arrangement for comparison with measured signal levels obtained at the input circuit of the arrangement. However, this methodls not the most convenient one, particularly where it is also desirable to observe the'wave form of the output signal of the arrangement.

of course. the use of a cathode-ray tube oscilloscope for tracingthe amplitude-time characteristic of an applied signal is also exceedingly well known in theart. Further, it has been'proposed to calibrate the screen of the oscilloscope, enabling ratios to be found from the signal patterns traced thereon. While this sort of measuring system is acceptable, it-necessitates careiul calibration oi the oscilloscope if reliable signal measurements are to bevmade: For most applications it is highly desirable to be able to ascertain signal-to-nc lse ratios through the use of an oscilloscope, but in a system in which an absolute calibration of the oscilloscope sensitivity 4 is not required. It is an object of the present invention, there-' fore, to provides system for analyzing a wave signal which avoids one or more oi the abovementioned limitatiom oi prior arrangements.

11 Claims. (cl. 1111-09 It is another object oi the invention to provide a new and improved system for analyzing wave signals and especially suited for making signalto-noise measurements.

It is a specific object of the invention to vide a new and improved system for determining signal-to-noise ratios through the use of an oscilloscope that does not require an absolute calibration of the oscilloscope.

In accordanoeiwith theinvention, a system for analyzing a wave signal comprises a signaltransiating stage. having two closely spaced or ntrol eflect during operating instants in which the amplitude of an appiied signal is approab, mately equal to a preselected value, representing the mean value oi the limiting levels. The system has a line-tracing device and a control orrangement for controlling this device to trace I pattern representing the amplitude-time characteristic of the applied signal and for concurrently utilizing the control eiiect to modulate tb brightness of the pattern to indicate instantaneous amplitude values or the applied signal corresponding to the aforementioned preselected value.

For a better understanding of the present invention. together with other and iurther objects thereof. reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and its scope will be pointed out in'the appended claims. I

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a. schematic represntation oi a wave-signal analyzing system cmb'odving the present invention; and Figs. 2, 8. and 4 comprise graphs utilized in explaining the eration of the Fig. 1 arrangement. I

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1.-thc

system there represented may be used to any applied wave signal but it is especially suited for making measurements which involvetho random noise-signal output oi a wave-signal translating arrangement, indicated at U.

oi'the inventiomiit wili be considered as a receiver forutiiizing aisignal oi pulse wave form.

The system of the present invention for snalyzing the signal output of receiver ll comprises a direct-current (D.-C.) reinserter or stabilizing arrangement of well-known form ior stabilizing a rectified signal output oi the receiver for application to a signal-translating stage is. praently to be described. The stabilizing is accomplished in a circuit including a diode It, the anode of which is grounded while its cathode is connected to'the output circuit or receiverll through a condenser II. The resistor II is included in the load circuit oi diode ll so that the potential developed thereacross represent a wave signal.

The stabilized wave signal is applied to a signal transiating stage ll or the limitatype.

This stage comprises a. pair oi diodes is and IQ.

The anode of the former is directly connected with the high-potential terminal 0! 100d m amplitudelimitinglevemeiiectivetoderivesssllsndthecathodesotbothdiodcssrsocn-,

Thb

I r arrangement may constitute any apparent which accommodates and translates'wsv'e sign-h 'gh'ut, for the of a detailed esplanstionnectedthroughaloadresisterilto asourceo! bias potential. represented by a battery .0. A

iurtherloedresistorllandbiassource ll couple the anode 01 diode]! t the low-potential termb.

. nalor resistor n. thereby to complete the load circuit oidiode It. batteries I! and 2| devacuum tubes 23 and 24. The cathodes 0! these Vtriodes are interconnected through a common "cathode impedance :5 which couples the tubes and serves to'stabilize their operation. The

anode 0! tube 23 13111186! connected with a space-current source. indicated +8, while the anode of the other tube 2| is connected thereto by way of an anode resistor 2s. The circuit oi tube 23 is a cathode iollower while tube 2 is a cathode-input grounded-grid repeater so that signal variations of one polarity introduced into the input circuit of tube 23 appear as signal variations of the same polarity in the output circuit of tube It Preferably, the repeater 23, 24 is arranged to eflectsymmetrical limiting of signals translated therethrough from diodes I, it.

The output circuit of tube 24 is connected through a diflerentiating circuit to the input electrodes 0! an additional wave-signal repeater;ineluding a triode vacuum tube 30. The diiierentiating circuit consists 0! a condenser 81 having one terminal connected with the anode electrode 0! tube and a resistor 32 having one terminal grounded. 'The common terminal of elements Si and 32 connects with the control electrode of tube ll. A balanced output is availableirom tube III by virtue of ananode impedance 33 con; necting to a source 01' space crurent +8 and a cathode impedance at through which the cathode is grounded. A pair of diodes .35 and 3S permit an output signal oi one polarity to be obtained irorn repeater Thesediodes have individual anode resistors 3-1, 38 and share a common cath- -odeim'pedance ss. Condensers it and connect 35 and 36 to the anode and cathode electrodes, respectively, of tube 30; rue load circuit 1 iine two amplitude-limiting levels iorthe stage,

and the adjustable connection tobattery ll provides means for simultaneously adjusting both limiting levels equal amounts in the same divr'ec tion or sense. The need iorthisjadlustmentwill become apparent ircm the description 0 areehosentoeitectlhnitingotmmd positive polaritysothatthefullsaturatedmm 'otthetubeissubstanth-llyequsltotheem'red establishedlathe-absenceotaignahinitsinputv circint.

A line-tracing device, shown as'a cathode-m tube oroscilloscope II; is included lnthe system for tracing signal. patterns. Thecathode-ray tube has-an electrode system for producing an electronbeamwhich maybecontrnllaibyapplied signalstotracepatterns. Thetreverseoithe electronbeamaerossthescreenotthetubeto establish a signal pattern thereon is underthe control of vertical deflecting electrodes ll, 08

and horizontal deflecting electrodes u, it in'the usual manner. A conductor GI connected with the output circuit 0! receiver ll constitutu means tor applyins the signal output of the receiver to the vertical deflecting elements. A

time-base signal supplied byja scanning generator (not shown) is applied to the horizontal electrodes II, II to eiiect horisontal scanning in the oscilloscope. The control elect obtained from signal-translating stage I4 is supplied by way oi a condenser 66 and grid resistor i! to the brilliant!- control electrode I oi the tube. This electrode comprises means for utilizing the control eiiect supplied by stage ll to modulate the brightness of the electron beam of the cathoderay tube and thesignal pattern traced thereby.

In considering the operation 0! the wave-signal analyzing system represented in Pig. 1, reference is made to the curves oi Fig. 2. and it will 'be assumed initially that only a rectified noise-lilnal output oi positive polarity isobtained from receiver II. This signal. which is applied directly'to the stabilizing diode II, is stabilized on its negative peaks and a portion of the stabilised oi each diode is completed by' a common ground connection 42. .The described signal-translating stage it constitutes means for deriving a control eflect during operating intervals in which the amplitude of an applied signal is approximately equal to a preselected value to be defined particularly in connection with the operation of the system The also has means for determining the percentage of an observation interval in which a signal applied to stage It has an amplitude level corresponding to or exceeding the preselected value mentioned in the preceding 9h. This means is shownas a milliammeter, 5B included in the anode-cathode circuit of a pentodetype vacuum tube ii. The input electrodes of this tube are connected with the output circuit .01 repeater 24 through a coupling condenser 82, v flagridresistortioihighvalueahdaleakreslstor i 4. Operating potentials are applied to' pentodetubeinthehshalmannerandacohdenser II provides a lay-pass tor the milliamn parametersoithe cir'cuitotihsbell noise signal is represented by curve a. having an expanded time base to facilitate the showing}! teristic varies in a random fashion The stabilized noise signal is supplied to signal-translating stage It and the portions thereot which represent amplitude values withinithe range determined by the limiting levels otdiodes ll and II are translated to derive a control eii'ect. me first amplitude'limiting l y l.,isdesignated by horizontal line a oIflIlgJZQ-{It with the amplitude-'dela'yto-the cathode. 01 diode" from battery'iL}; The scwhd'llmiflii level. represented byhorinontal line b; is estab' -lished by battery "and the other battery 20 included in'the circuit otdiode il.- Battery 2. has a-sm'all value so that the levels a andb are closely spaced and deline a verynarrow range. Together they control conduction through diodes II and II to eiIect square-wave limiting.

That is, the bias batteries II and 2| permit diodes "and lttotranslateonlysuchportiomoian appliedsignalssoccurwithinthenarrowamplitude range 0-0. V Y

It will be apparent, tor example, that diode II is rendered conductive only when the amplitude otthe appliedsignalexceedsthedelaybiasim pressed on its'csthode by battery It. I now through diode ll produces a positive potentialonthe cathodeot diode II and. durlngoplatingintervalsinwhichthebiasthnsapplied exceeds theipotentialotbattei'ritdlode llh rendered nonconductive. Consequently. in re- 'sponsetotheappliedsignalorcurvemseontsol signalisderivedtromthscircuitotdiodes ll andllassbownbycurvec. l'orconvenina,

e in insatan-w I msmmeamamvw m respondsolelytothenoise-signslouiputoireceiver ltwherethatisdesiredtoproducea potternottheiypeshuwninllmsrepresenting the amplitude-time eharacteristi oithe random as well as its RAIL-8. value. It may 7 utilise the output of "the receiver during a cperstingintervais inv-hich ulses oi short duration and along time uparstionare received to es-- mouth a pattern or the type'sho'yn in Pig. 4 iron which signs-l-to-noisemeasurementsmsy be made I directly. where the-received signal has continuous modulation. the slgnal-tc-noise ratiomsy be deierminedshy interrupting the modulation tor an observation interval in which en mas-s. value a: thenoise output 0! the receiver is ascertained {or comparison with sin-oscilloscope picture oi the received signal. when the-modulation is interrupted. the noise with a, carrier present is symmetrical noise because in such a case the phase oi the noise is significant; enabling the noise signal either to add to or subtract from the carrier signal. In this case the noise may be measured by removing the D.-C.reinserter circuit, including diode II'. and obtaining a reading on meter 5| of 15.9 per cent. oi saturation current.

It will be understood that the noise signal referred to is the random noise present in all communication equipment. It is contributed by shot this type has the property that itsinstantaneous amplitude value isless than its R.-M.8. value for 68.3 per cent. 0! the time. The battery it which predominantly'determines the mean value 0! the limiting levels a and b provides a measure, in terms of a D.-C. potential of the R.-M.-S. value of noise. when the arrangement of Fig. l utilises only the random noise output of receiver it While there has been described what is'at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of this invention. it will be obvious to those'skilled in the art that various changes and modifications I may bemade therein'without departing from the invention, and it is, therefore, aimed to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope oi the invent! ,Whatisclaimed-is:

1. A system {or analyzing a wave'signal comprising; a; signal-translating stage eiiectiveto derive a control eil'ect during operating instants in which the amplitude of said signal is approximately equal to a preselected value; a line-tracing device; a'control arrangement (or controlling said line-tracing device to trace a pattern representing the amplitude-time characteristic of said signal and for concurrently utilizing said control eiiect to modulate the brizhtness or said pattern to indieate instantaneous amplitude values of said sig- I nu-corresponding to said preselected value; and

meam for determining the per cent. 0! an obs'ervation interval in which s id n l has at leastsaidprmelectedvalue.

2. A system for analyzing a wave signal com prising: asignal-translating stage,having two closely spaced amplitude-limiting levels; eiiective to derive a control efleet during operating in.

stants'in which the amplitude of said signal is op .proximstelyequaltoapreselectedvaluerepresenting the mean value or said limiting levels; a linertracing device; and a control arrangement rs: controlling said line-tracing device to trace Y a pattern representing the amplitude-time characteristic oi said signal and for concurrently utiiizingsaideontrol eiiecttomodulstethebrlshtneelotsaidpatterntoindlcateinstantaneouam- 1lm f v 0.40am "l I plitndsvs'iuesoisaidslmslccnesmndinstolaid 1 mm I. A system tor-analyzing wave signal comprising: a signal-translating S e-8e; having too clos ly spaced amplitude-limiting levels. citestive to derive a control eiiect during operafilll instants in which the amplitude oi said signal 3 approximately equal to a reierence value. repre-Z senting the mean value of said limiting levels; means (or adiusting said limiting levels to establish said reference at a preselected value; a linetracing device; and a controlcrrang'ement (or controlling said line-tracing device to trace a pattern representing the amplitude-time characteristicoisaidsigmllsndiorconcm-l'entlyutilis-j ing and control eiiect to modulate the brishtness or said paflern to indicate instantaneous amplitude values oi said signal eorrmponding to said preselected value.

a 4 A system ioranalyzing a wave signal comrelerence at a preselected value; a line-tracing eiIect, thermal agitation, and the like. Noise 0! so device; and a control arrangement for controlling said line-tracing device to trace a pattern representing the amplitude-time'characteristic oi said signal and (or concurrently utilizing said control eiiect to modulate the brightness oisaid pattern to indicate instantaneous amplitude values of said signal corresponding to said preselected value.

5. A system for analyzingan applied wave sig- I nal comprising: a signal-translating stage, having 45 selected alum-representing the mean value of said limiting levels: a use-mung device; and a 00119 1 tool arrangement (or controlling said line-tracing device totrace a pattern representing the ampli-z' tude-time characteristic oi said applied signal and for concurrently utilizing saidpontrol signal to modulate the brightness 0: said pattern to indicate instantaneous amplitude values oiv said-ap plied signal mrresponding ,to said preselected value. 55 B. A system ior analyzing an applied wave silnal comprising: a signal-translating stage. havlm two closely spaced amplitude-limiting levels. for deriving a control signal of substantially rectangular wave form including spaced pulses the leadlngandtrailing'edgesoiwhichoccurduringoperating in which the amplitude of said applied signal is approximately equal to a preselected value, representing the mean value c! said limiting levels; means associated with said stage for diilerentiating said control signal to obtain a control effect from said edges of said spaced pulses; a line-tracing device: and a cone trol arrangement for controlling said line-tracing device to trace a psttern repmenting the ampli- (Q tude-time characteristic oi said applied signal and iorseoncurrently utilizing said wntrol eii'ect to modulate the brightness oi said pattern to indicafe instantaneous amplitude values of said appliedsignslcorrespondingtcsaidpreselectod 1* mar-3m momma I. A system (or an applied wave signal comprising: a s'gnal-translating stage. having two closely spaced arnplltudeyliniting levels. for deriving a control signal of substantially rectan- 'gular waveform including spaced pulsesthe leading and trailing edgesoi which occur duringopersting in which theaznplitude of said 7 finned 318ml 1; 'a mixiznately equal to a prewaelected value. represcntingtrge mean value of said limiting levels; a line-tracing device: a controlarrangementior controlling said line-trac ng device to trace a pattern representing the amplitilde-time characterist c oi'saici applied signal and for concurrently utilizing said control signal to modulate the brightness oi said pattern to indicate instantaneous amplitude values of said ap I 11.40am

. rangement ior controlling said line-tracing deplied signal corresponding to said preselected value; and means coupled to said stage ior indicating the ratio of total pulse time of said control signal during an observation interval to the total duration 0! said observation interval. thereby to determine the percent. time in which said applied signal has at least said preselected value 8.4 system for analyzing a random noise signal to indicate its roct-mean-square value comprising: a s gnal-translating stage having two closelv spaced. adiustably iixed amplitudedimlting levels effective to derive a control eilect during operating instants in which the amplitude of said signal is approximately equal to a preselected value. rcpresentingthe mean value oi said limitvice to trace apattern representing the amplitulle-time characteristic of said signal and for concurrently utilizing said control effect to modulate the brightness of said pattern to indicate instantaneous amplitude values of said signal corresponding to saidjpreselected value; and means I for determining an operating condition oi'sald system in which the amplitude of said noise signal is less than said preselected value 68.3 per .cent of the observation time. whereby the indication of said preselected value in said traced pattern corresponds with the'root-mean-square value or said signal.

9. A system for analyzing arandom noise aignal to indicate its root-mcan s'quare value comprising: means for stabilizing said signal on one .set oi'its peak values: a signal-translating stage lhaving two closely spaced. adiustably fixed amplitude-limitingl'cvels eilective to derive a control ellect during operating instants in which the amplitude of said stabilized signal is approximately equal to a preselected value, representing the mean value of said limiting levels; a linetracing device: a control larrangcment for controiling said line-tracing device to trace a pattern representing the amplitude-time character. istic of said signal and (or concurrently utilizing said control eilect to modulate the brightness of said pattern to indicate instantaneous amplitude valuesotsaidsignalcorrcspondingtosaidpmselected value; and means !or determining an operating-condition of said system in which the -amplitudeoisaidnoiseaignalislessthansaid vice to trace a pattern representing the amplihide-time characteristic of said noise component andior concurrently utilizing said control ei'iect to modulate thebrightness 0! said pattern to indicate instantaneous amplitude values of said noise component correspond g to said preselected value; and means for denrmining an operating condition oi said system in which the amplitude oi said noise signal is less than said preselected value 68.! per cent. of the observation time. whereby the indicationof said preselected value in said traced pattern correspond's with the root-meansquare value of said signal and provides a reierence suitable ior ascertaining the signal-to-noise ratio oi said arrangement.

7 ing levels: a'line tracing device: a control a'rrangemeni. for-[controlling said line-tracing de-' tude-time characteristic 0! said noise component- 11. A system for analyzing the signal output 0! an arrangement translating signal pulses having a duration very short with reference to their time separation to determine the siznaMo noise ratio thereoicomprising: a signal-translatlngstage for responding primarily to the random noise component 0! said signal occurring between said pulses to derive a control eii'ect during operating instants in which the amplitude oi said noise component is approximately equal to a preselected value; a line-tracing device; a control arrangementior controlling said line-tracing device to'trace a pattern representing the ampliand said pulses and for concurrently utilizing said control eilect to modulate the brightness or said pattern to indicate instantaneous amplitude values of said noise component corresponding to said preselected value; and means (or 'determin ing an operating condition 0! said system in which the amplitude or -said noise'signal is lac than said preselected value 68.3 per cent. 0! the observation time. whereby the. indication oi said preselected value in said traced pattern corresponds with the root-mean-square value oi said signal and provides a visible representation of the aignal-to-noise ratio of said arrangement.

, BERNARD D. LOUGHIJR.

aim-names omen ,frhe iollowing-reierencesareoirecordintha file Of thLs patent:

UNI'I'ED STATES PATENTS Number. Name Data 2,241,254: Gould m a. 1m 2,269,228 mam J'ana. m: a June 8 2,285,038 Loughlin 

